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Thinking about getting it

ardchoille

ardchoille

Android Expert
I was in a coffee shop the other day and had the opportunity to see a Nexus 4. I asked the owner of the phone some questions and he let me hold it. The body was nice, and the interface was beautiful. The owner said the phone was still stock but he was planning to flash a ROM soon. I fell in love with it and started thinking about my finances hoping that I could afford one.

I currently have two devices with Verizon (Droid Razr HD and MiFi4620L), and I'd like to stay on Verizon. Is the Nexus 4 compatible with Verizon Wireless? Can I simply add a line and have Verizon activate a Nexus 4 on their network? Anything else I should know about this phone with regard to Verizon?
 
JunBringer said:
You could always just use it on your Mifi through Verizon's network and use VOIP for calls.
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Yeah, I was thinking about this too. I keep my Droid Razr HD and Chromebook connected to my MiFi because it has a larger data allowance. So, I could simply keep a Nexus 4 connected to the MiFi as well.

I see a Nexus 4 in my future :)
 
ardchoille said:
Agreed. I've been researching this phone and am already impressed. It will be my first Google experience phone and I simply can't pass up the price given that it's off-contract, easily rooted and free of bloatware.
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Not that you need convincing, but I can't praise this phone highly enough. No bloatware (well, carrier specific bloatware. Can't say I use all the Google apps that come pre-loaded..) and it runs Android 4.2.2 out of the box. Come June it'll be running Android 5.0 (or 4.3, who knows) Key Lime Pie.

The 1.5GHz quad core processor doesn't even break a sweat when switching between multiple apps and lagg is virtually non-existent. On top of that there are probably 100+ custom ROMs available for this phone so you can tweak to your hearts content.
 
Banished Angel said:
Not that you need convincing, but I can't praise this phone highly enough. No bloatware (well, carrier specific bloatware. Can't say I use all the Google apps that come pre-loaded..) and it runs Android 4.2.2 out of the box. Come June it'll be running Android 5.0 (or 4.3, who knows) Key Lime Pie.

The 1.5GHz quad core processor doesn't even break a sweat when switching between multiple apps and lagg is virtually non-existent. On top of that there are probably 100+ custom ROMs available for this phone so you can tweak to your hearts content.
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I've owned 7 android phones and I've rooted and flashed ROMs on all of them except my Droid Razr HD. The reason I've not rooted this phone is due to the huge battery coupled with Android's ability to disable apps. But, I do miss rooting, exploring ROMs, and creating my own themes - more of the latter than anything else.

Quad-core.. holy cow!

I've heard that the next version of android for phones will bring with it multiple user access and widgets on the lock screen.

I think I need to lay off all of the reviews and videos I've been viewing. The more I fall in love with the Nexus 4, the longer payday will take to arrive, Murphy's Law. But, I'm definitely looking forward to the experience.
 
I was in the local mall yesterday and stopped a T-Mobile store and played around with the N4. I must say that it is a pretty good looking phone. I'm also wanting one and my vzw contract doesn't expire until December.

I have thought about buying one sooner and maybe use mifi/wifi with it along with VOIP until the vzw contract ends, then get on T-Mobile. I'm ready for a different phone.
 
ardchoille said:
That is one of the best things about the Android platform.. it doesn't get boring.
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I'm sure I'll get jumped on and called a sellout or phanboi (though I know YOU know that's not the case).... I love my n4 but the leap from the regular RAZR wasn't as "holy" as I thought it would be. It's very possible you may feel the same coming from the RAZR HD. :)
 
Kelmar said:
I'm sure I'll get jumped on and called a sellout or phanboi (though I know YOU know that's not the case).... I love my n4 but the leap from the regular RAZR wasn't as "holy" as I thought it would be. It's very possible you may feel the same coming from the RAZR HD. :)
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Yeah, that's why I'm doing more research than I usually do. The Razr HD is an awesome phone and I don't want to end up with any regrets. But, it's always good to have someone give a heads-up :)
 
ardchoille said:
Yeah, that's why I'm doing more research than I usually do. The Razr HD is an awesome phone and I don't want to end up with any regrets. But, it's always good to have someone give a heads-up :)
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The faster processor is NICE. The better screen (compared to Razr) is amazing! I HATE the glass back (seriously... who decided that it was a good idea). I LOVE having instant updates!!! As mentioned, no carrier bloat (right out of the box), easy root, lots of developer support....

There are LOTS of great qualities. You'll love it but it won't be like you are coming from the dInc or the Eris or anything like that. :)
 
Kelmar said:
The faster processor is NICE. The better screen (compared to Razr) is amazing! I HATE the glass back (seriously... who decided that it was a good idea). I LOVE having instant updates!!! As mentioned, no carrier bloat (right out of the box), easy root, lots of developer support....
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Finally someone who agrees with me about the glass back!!! However, dbrand do some pretty good back covers for it. I'm currently using the Black Titanium one.

It is a great phone ard, it's not without fault, but it is amazing. As Kelmar mentioned, the glass back is terrible and storage is an issue (for me anyway as my phone is my MP3 player), but it is workable.

Root was mega easy, almost disappointingly so, but as has been pointed out, there are LOADS of ROMs for the device so you'll not get bored easily.

I've yet to find a really decent case I'm happy with, but I think that's just an issue over here, there appear to be plenty of decent options over the pond (Seidio etc). At the moment, the dbrand and the GENx bumper will suffice.

I don't think you'll be disappointed, but if you're coming from another high end device you don't have any real problems with, don't expect to be ultra, mega amazed.
 
I admit that I'm really nervous about this glass back when mine comes. I wouldn't say that I'm careless with my phone, but I do have the occasional drop and will be getting insurance with it. After so many people complaining about the iPhone 4 and it's glass back, I can't believe this idea made it off the drawing table. :rolleyes: :mad:
 
Seriously... a glass back WITHOUT a case turns an accidental bump into the corner of a table or chair into broken glass... yeah, mines had a case since day one for that very reason. I LOVE the way the naked n4 feels but it's not worth the risk for how easy it would be to damage it.
 
Well, I don't who came up with the idea of a glass back on a mobile phone but that was a silly idea, IMHO. What purpose does it serve? I mean who's going to be staring at the back of a phone long enough to appreciate glass?

I have never dropped a mobile device, and I've only had a case on one of my phones, but I'm going to have the n4 in a case immediately. I'm still amazed at the price. Makes me wonder why my Droid Razr HD was more expensive.
 
I was looking at the rooting guide for the Nexus 4 and it looks like a Windows PC is require. Is that the case? I thought all Google experience phones had the ability to root via an option in the settings somewhere. Being that I've never owned a google phone I could be completely wrong, though. I don't have access to a Windows PC at all.
 
ardchoille said:
Well, I don't who came up with the idea of a glass back on a mobile phone but that was a silly idea, IMHO. What purpose does it serve? I mean who's going to be staring at the back of a phone long enough to appreciate glass?

I have never dropped a mobile device, and I've only had a case on one of my phones, but I'm going to have the n4 in a case immediately. I'm still amazed at the price. Makes me wonder why my Droid Razr HD was more expensive.
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I believe it was done to facilitate the induction charging and not solely cosmetic.

ardchoille said:
I was looking at the rooting guide for the Nexus 4 and it looks like a Windows PC is require. Is that the case? I thought all Google experience phones had the ability to root via an option in the settings somewhere. Being that I've never owned a google phone I could be completely wrong, though. I don't have access to a Windows PC at all.
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I used the Nexus 4 toolkit, but you should be able to root from the command line as well.
 
Well, it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to root a Nexus 4.. I don't have access to a Windows PC. I haven't used Windows in over a decade so I doubt I'll remember how to do anything on it anyway - been a Linux user since 2001.

Anyone know of a root method that is possible to do right from the n4 itself? I only see 3 root methods in the guide, and they all seem to require Windows.
 
ardchoille said:
Well, it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to root a Nexus 4.. I don't have access to a Windows PC. I haven't used Windows in over a decade so I doubt I'll remember how to do anything on it anyway - been a Linux user since 2001.

Anyone know of a root method that is possible to do right from the n4 itself? I only see 3 root methods in the guide, and they all seem to require Windows.
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You can certainly root the nexus using linux. All you need is fastboot

Plug it in, fastboot OEM unlock

Fastboot flash recovery

Youre done
 
ardchoille said:
Sadly, I don't have a Linux machine anymore. I'll just enjoy the phone without root :)
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You haven't used windows in over a decade and you don't currently have access to your OS of choice (Linux), but you have no problem accessing the internet. Wow, you sir are a rarity haha.
 
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